KFC is testing a very different kind of restaurant in Texas. The chicken chain announced on September 24 that its new Open House concept in McKinney will open September 26, bringing breakfast, boba refreshers, table service, expanded late-night hours and a wider menu into one experimental U.S. location.
The 3,400-square-foot restaurant at 8751 El Dorado Parkway is designed as a real-world testing ground. KFC says ideas that work there could eventually influence its more than 3,500 restaurants across the United States.
What is new at KFC Open House?
The biggest change is not one menu item but the combination of new ways to eat at KFC. According to KFC’s September 24 announcement, Open House adds breakfast and late-night service while testing a broader beverage program, new chicken formats, sauces and sides.
Breakfast is especially notable. The McKinney restaurant will serve breakfast sandwiches, Original Recipe tenders, Hashbrown Sticks, Mini Cronuts, coffee and iced lattes. KFC also says the location will debut boba refreshers and Krunch shakes in the U.S. as part of its broader global beverage strategy.
The restaurant keeps familiar KFC staples while adding more customization. Guests can choose sauces for items including Twisters, Snackers and sandwiches, with options such as Kentucky BBQ, Buffalo, Ranch, Jalapeño Ranch, Sweet Heat Ranch and Garlic Parmesan.
KFC is also changing how the restaurant works
Open House is not just a menu test. The restaurant includes table service, self-order kiosks, digital menu boards, dual drive-thru lanes and a dedicated mobile pickup lane. It seats 52 guests and will operate from 6 a.m. to midnight.
That makes the location closer to a laboratory for KFC’s U.S. business than a standard new store. The Associated Press reported from a pre-opening presentation that the restaurant is intended to test ideas ranging from breakfast and drinks to service and design.
Could these KFC menu items come to other restaurants?
Possibly, but KFC has not announced a nationwide rollout of the Open House menu or format. The company describes the McKinney location as a place to learn what works for guests, restaurant teams and the business before deciding which ideas could scale.
That distinction matters: breakfast, boba drinks and table service are being tested at this location, not announced for every U.S. KFC.
The experiment follows a broader KFC refresh announced earlier this year, with more emphasis on boneless chicken, sauces, beverages and updated restaurant design.
When does KFC Open House open?
KFC says Open House will officially open Saturday, September 26, 2026, in McKinney, Texas. A public opening celebration is scheduled for September 27 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Central Time.
For shoppers following new food launches, Recipes & Cooking recently covered the Cup Noodles Vampire Noodles Halloween launch. We also track limited-time restaurant releases such as Culver’s Smoked Cheddar CurderBurger.
Bottom line
KFC Open House puts several experiments under one roof: U.S. breakfast, boba refreshers, Krunch shakes, more sauces, table service and new ordering options. For now, McKinney is the test. The more important story will be which of those ideas KFC eventually decides are strong enough to bring to restaurants nationwide.
